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Apple’s Jobs suggests Dell should eat his words

After the close of the stock market Friday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs took advantage of his company’s recent good fortunes to have a laugh at the expense of Dell’s boss.

Shortly after Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, Dell’s founder and chairman, Michael Dell, was asked at a technology conference what he might do to fix Apple. “What would I do?” Dell said. “I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”

On Friday, Jobs sent an email to Apple employees, which read: “Team, it turned out that Michael Dell wasn’t perfect at predicting the future. Based on today’s stock market close, Apple is worth more than Dell. Stocks go up and down, and things may be different tomorrow, but I thought it was worth a moment of reflection today. Steve.”

Comments

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When I think of all the time I wasted on a Dell computer (shudder)
Using a Dell is like driving a nail with a featherduster - it’s the wrong tool.

Posted by Congo Billy on January 16, 2006 at 2:34 AM (CST)

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There is a such thing as a sore winner. Jobs is a bad case of one in this instance….

Posted by Adam on January 16, 2006 at 3:02 AM (CST)

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I think it is a very decent piece of motivational writing. I see nothing sore. Apple’s employees must be working like animals these days, especially with the intel transition, and it pays off.

Posted by Bad Beaver on January 16, 2006 at 3:09 AM (CST)

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Wow. Nine years. That’s a long time to hold a grudge.

Posted by A1 on January 16, 2006 at 3:56 AM (CST)

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Sore winner? Did you hear what Michael Dell said? He was being a dick, and he got shown up. Had Dell not given himself a bunch of rope, Jobs wouldn’t have been able to hang him.

As Jobs said: Stocks go up, and stocks go down, but Dell was way out of line saying he’d liquidate the company. He’s always been Microsoft’s bootlicker, and he’ll always BE Microsoft’s bootlicker.

Posted by moofie on January 16, 2006 at 4:03 AM (CST)

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Haha, pwn3d!

Posted by Fenn on January 16, 2006 at 5:06 AM (CST)

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Rope? In 1997? Considering how bad a shape Apple was when Jobs came back, Dell’s comments were not all that outlandish.

It’s great that Dell’s past comment didn’t come true. However, all of Apple’s good fortune is still tied to one primary product line: iPod. And only because of the decision to start selling iPods to WINDOWS users. It’s still ironic that if Apple hadn’t decided to cater to the Wintel world little of this good fortune would be happening now. In ‘97, who would’ve known that Apple’s (good) fortunes today would not be one based on computers, and indeed tied to the Windoze world?

The reality is that until Aptels start selling in serious quantity, Apple will still be a minor player in the computer market. As it stands, Apple is doing a better job at being an electronics manufacturer and media reseller than a computer maker; that’s the main reason for the growth in their stock valuation.

Posted by flatline response on January 16, 2006 at 5:17 AM (CST)

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“all of Apple’s good fortune is still tied to one primary product line: iPod.”

If that were true, how did Apple survive up until the end of 2001? 2002 if you wait for Windows, and 2003 if you wait for it to start hitting the big time with iTMS?

Posted by iPodG5 on January 16, 2006 at 5:27 AM (CST)

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If that were true, how did Apple survive up until the end of 2001? 2002 if you wait for Windows, and 2003 if you wait for it to start hitting the big time with iTMS?

Simple. It’s called ‘getting by’. And fixing what was broke (thanks to the previous CEOs). However, during those years Apple’s share of the PC marketplace was still declining, even though many people thought the computers like the first generation iMac and PowerMacs were great. I recall reading reports on zdnet in late ‘04 or early ‘05 that Apple’s computer market share had shrunk to a point where it was barely over 3%. And this is what you’re inferring as “success”?

That said, I never claimed that the Apple of today was on the verge of failing without the success of iPod. I simply described the obvious: iPods are what’s making Apple flush with capital these days. Jobs has done a masterful ‘job’ (sorry) of turning the company around in all phases. But iPod and iTMS are still what have been catching investors’ eyes.

BTW, iPods for Windows (3G) was 2003.

Posted by flatline response on January 16, 2006 at 7:03 AM (CST)

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Actually most of you are missing the bigger picture. Have you ever heard the phrase “Getting your foot in the door”? Well that’s exactly what Apple is doing, lure them in with the ipod and get them thinking about the options they have in PC’s. It’s a tried and true business plan. Just keep in mind that nine years from now we may hear from Mr. Dell, but for now the worm has definitely turned!!!

Posted by dimefan on January 16, 2006 at 10:15 AM (CST)

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Actually flatline response, The 2nd gen iPod was the first one Windows compatible. That’s one reason it WAS 2nd gen as it looked identical to the original. It also sported more storage.

Posted by Hrududu on January 16, 2006 at 12:06 PM (CST)

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Though Apple is a comparitively *minor* player in the computer market…...Michael Dell should really learn when to speak and when not to.

I know there are alot of people in the PC market who, when faced with the prospect of buying a new computer, say no to Dell because of their shaky reliability/build quality.

I’m not trying to say that Apple/Jobs are perfect in any way, but Mikey should leave well enough alone and start taking care of his OWN problems instead of bitching about everyone else’s

Posted by Huskerz85 on January 16, 2006 at 12:44 PM (CST)

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“Actually flatline response, The 2nd gen iPod was the first one Windows compatible. That’s one reason it WAS 2nd gen as it looked identical to the original. It also sported more storage.”

Their was a 5GB 1G compatible with Windows. The difference between 1G and 2G was the wheel- the mechanical on 1G, touch-sensitive on 2G.

Posted by EricS2008 on January 16, 2006 at 1:37 PM (CST)

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9 years is a hell of a long time, and a hell of a lot can (and did happen). I’m willing to bet Michael Dell wasn’t the only person thinking that about Apple in 1997.

Posted by RandomGuy on January 16, 2006 at 11:59 PM (CST)

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Actually flatline response, The 2nd gen iPod was the first one Windows compatible. That’s one reason it WAS 2nd gen as it looked identical to the original. It also sported more storage.

Ugh. MusicMatch Jukebox. I’d forgotten about that. ESPECIALLY after all the hell I went through trying to get my Zens to work with that rabid piece of software.

The more accurate description should’ve been when iTunes AND iPod went Windows which, correct me if I’m wrong again, came with the 3G. It’s then the genie was really let out of the bottle.

Posted by flatline response on January 17, 2006 at 5:39 AM (CST)

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**I’m not trying to say that Apple/Jobs are perfect in any way, but Mikey should leave well enough alone and start taking care of his OWN problems instead of ######## about everyone else’s**

It was NINE years ago!! He was asked a question & answered it. He was not the only one thinbking that way at the time. It’s not like he spen time on it. Jobs is lameo for still even remembering it. Also it’s not Mr. Dell is hurting, being worth 71 billion dollars is not bad Karma. LOL